This Sunday, it's LPGA vs. Chargers

Torrey Gane, the tournament director for the LPGA Tour's Samsung World Championship being played this week at Torrey Pines, is not about to wish ill will on any other sports organization. That would be bad karma.

“I would never want do that to anyone,” Gane said very seriously last week.

But let's put it this way: If the Chargers' home opener were to be blacked out Sunday afternoon because a sellout isn't achieved, I don't think Gane is going to be horribly disappointed.

By sheer bad luck of the draw, the Chargers' schedule was determined after the Samsung's date was set, and the football team's home opener fell on the same day as the golf tournament's final round. The last two hours of the golf are to be played between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., during the heart of the game.

If the Chargers were to be blacked out, it stands to reason that more people would show up for the golf and watch it on NBC, which is handling a women's tournament for only the third time this year.

Gane can only play the hand she was dealt. It's just unfortunate, given this is the first time the LPGA has played in San Diego since 1993.

“It certainly isn't ideal,” Gane said. “We know this is a big Charger area. But we're hoping that those people will come to the tournament and then head over to the Chargers. We know we have a huge golf community here, and we do believe the hard-core traditional golfer is going to come out and support us.”

There will be plenty of time for fans to see the golf all week. Tomorrow's pro-am is free, and with a 20-player field that features only twosomes, the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday won't start until 11:30 a.m. Gane notes the Saturday round begins at 7 a.m., so fans need to show up early. The leaders will be done by about 12:30 p.m. On Sunday, the final round begins at 8:30 a.m.

Gane said ticket sales have been “good, but not over the top.” She said this event generally draws a lot of walk-up business. Gane previously has said last year's Samsung at Half Moon Bay in Northern California drew about 30,000. It was no doubt boosted by the victory of Northern California native Paula Creamer.

Samsung housekeeping

•While the South Course hosts the Samsung, the North Course will be open for public play, with a few caveats. City Golf Manager
Jon Maddern
said only those with reservations can play; there will be no walk-up times. Only those who have reservations will be able to park in the main lot at Torrey Pines. Some golfers who showed up yesterday without reservations were disappointed they couldn't get on the North.

Also, Maddern has blacked out times on the North that coincide with the Samsung times on the South, so as not to create a hazard for spectators while the pros are teeing off.